Exercising stand



EXERCISING STAND Filed Feb. 29

between` Patented Jan. 19, 1954 n TTS? PATENT OFFICE y' 2,666,6411'.. Y

EXEECISING'STAND Y erin'ingls, Sr., lvrewood, hio A 195s,-w serial No. 274,171

vent* outward bending, y Y A` K A 25 the end .framescaused" brutwrdl thesis' exerted uponl these from a point there,-

hee-sew@ n., efflilyfmetaltwins: hingedly connected tgethi'forl relative' adi-ust Ar f the? chiede" theinyenign is; tof @eine a dev 'e of? the, ab character ithich is?` pri-- 35 #W61 efrical Substantially mfvertedy [lf-shape, sections achI oi-whic-zh.- hasa hoitl "Pifshrllpf" ha? the-1mi??? 1O2 1a1lelYV legs arranged, at right angles thereto terminating; in ritkd fsf if Pi all felle @i Such; feet: areairanged efsai'ne;V plane Whenfthedevice: issuubfowse A still furtherY object" oftheinvention;nis tof provide the devicewith @,th ds ectionwhichgis so'a'rrangedand con etedw h etwo- Ufshaped sectidnsla F f reaiilnsskddine; rtlltlils i Wasetorls'aunder- Stressl 0f"1.1`s' t` 1i1si1rethe alvefrelationshipsa therobjectsand advantageseofi the-,inventionz willz beconie-j apparent '-during the. course of the, 50 following-,descriptions Inthe accompanyinggdrawing forming; ai party ofl then descriptionand; i;vherein,l like`l numerals: are employeiztoyd signateflike parts. througliefl Y out- :-thefse'veralviewsi' 55 wieda-63)" Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the invention' showing its arrangement or position When used as` an exercising devcefor push-up exercises,

1iig.r2A is a similar view showing its position or adjustment when used as van exerciser or table stand; the dotted lines showing the adjustment ofthe-,endr frames or sections to form a foot and f legj rest or a table stand,

Fig, 3 is a perspective view of the device foldedA or collapsed for storage,`

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device folded or collapsed for storage,

Fig. is an elevation- 1 and also aI verticaly `sec'- tion of the preferred hinge lconnections between" thegthree sections ofthe device,

Fig. 6- is an elevation andalso` a vertical section ofi a modied hinge connection with means for latching the sections in-'variousl angular relations;

Fig: 7 is-.ani elevation of. another modified slidable hinge connection' between theth'reezsections'` which permits Various angular. adjustmentsL of the: end;r sections with'` respect-'to 'the intermediate section;

Fig. 8isa'verti`cal sectionoi the same,

Fig; 9 i'si an elevationA of an end' of the modiiiedl` intermediate. section or horizontal bar employed inlFigs; 7'an'd8, and:l

Fig. 1Q isa-nend elevation of the stand showing` itL converted into an occasional' table. *y

rReferring now'to' the drawing, wherein for the purpose of' illustration and not limitation, the preferred' embodiments of the invention are ill-I; lustrated the l'ettersAi andB'f designate generally-` th'eitwo end frames or sections ofl the device',v

ar'icihtrheL letter C designates generally the intermediatefranfiev or" sve'ct'on which is composedl of a singlehorizontal tubular bar I I about 2l inches longf {arrangedf} at approximately 9y inches front theii'oor. Each*offthejthreesections A, B"V and` C` is preferablyrnadeof rnetallictubing'for strength; 2

A Each end' ofthis` thrusty ,resisting` bar' Ifl: has rigidly connectedE durability andA appearance;

thereto, a vertical sleeve l2 elongated to'irm a substantial' bearing to prevent any tilting of the endl sections with respect to this bar it?. Thesefsleves 'may be like' T pipe fittings Withthe ends" ofktl'lerbar l'lvftlireadedv therein, or theyI may bie separatefslevesfbr'azed or Welded at' right angles. tot,y the. ends" of" the' bar.

The twoidenti'ca'l end frames or sections A' and4 B are-each preferably composed of a'si'ngle length of metal tubingbe'ntfat two spaced points prefera'blyatrightanglesas at |3to provide arhorizontal puslifue bar; lil s196111? 2 1' inches, lime' and 0f thel sameglength as: the bar` l'l terminating irij a front leg I5 and a rear leg I6 arranged at right angles to the bar I4 to dispose this bar about 18 inches from the floor. Anti-skid devices in the form of crutch rubber cups I1 are secured on the foot or lower ends of all four legs, and are arranged in the same plane in all positions or adjustments of the three sections to prevent slipping or skidding of the device. Elongated rubber or plastic hand grips I8 are slit longitudinally to snap on and off of the middle of the horizontal bars I4. The corresponding front legs I5 of the two end frames or sections are freely rotatably mounted in the sleeves I2 of bar II to swing through approximately 360 degrees, and these sleeves I2 are maintained about half way or upon the middle of their respective legs I5 at approximately 9 inches from the floor by a pair of set screws I9 threaded into each leg I5 and engaging the upper and lower parallel edges of the sleeve I2 as shown in Fig. 5 to maintain the bar I I at a constant elevation and to assure that the feet or cups I'I of all four legs are arranged in the same horizontal plane in all positions of these legs for stability cf the device and for the prevention of accidental skidding or tipping of the device in use. The bar II may also be maintained at this elevation on the legs I5 by providing the latter with bulged or expanded integral rings as shown in Fig. 2 and formed in the legs after the sleeves I2 have been slipped thereon. Y

If it be desired to provide means for releasably retaining the legs or end frames A and B in various adjusted angular positions with respect to the sleeves I2 and intermediate frame or section C, as for example in the positions shown in full and dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower edges of these sleeves I2 may be provided with spaced radial vertical notches 2I as shown in Fig. 6 and -tlie pair of set screws 22 in each leg I5 may be spaced apart vertically a greater distance than the vertical dimension of its respective sleeve I2. In this way the weight of the bar II and sleeves I2 will cause the sleeves to rest by gravity with their lower edges supported upon the lower screws 22 so that when the end frames A and B are turned on the vertical axes of their legs I5, the sleeves I2 will slide down the legs I5 as the rst notch 2I comes into alignment with the lower screw 22, thereby latching the end sections in a predetermined angular position with respect to the intermediate frame or section C. Should a different angular position be desired, the bar I I with the sleeves I2 are lifted to disengage their notches 2l from the lower screws 22, whereby the legs l5 can be turned on their axes to the desired position, after which the bar I I is released to permit its sleeves I2 to slide down the legs I5 and engage the proper notch with the lower set screw 22. If desired, the upper screws 22 may be dispensed with, as their primary purpose is to prevent excessive sliding of the sleeves I2 along the legs I5 when the bar II is raised to make alnew angular adjustment of the legs or end sections.

The primary purpose of this invention 1s to provide an exercising stand upon which pushups. callisthenics and acrobaties can be performed for health or amusement, or when not so used, can be used as a foot or leg rest or as the stand or legs of a card or occasional table, and when such uses are not desired, can be folded or collapsed to occupy the minimum storage space. When used for callisthenics, the two end sections A and B are swung on their hinge sleeves I2 to be arranged to extend at any angles desired but preferably in parallel relation at right angles to 4 the bar II with the four anti-skid devices I1 supported on the floor as shown in Fig. 1. The user places his right and left hands on the grips I8 with his arms extended and his body disposed between the horizontal bars I4 with his feet comfortably placed at a distance rearwardly of the legs I6 so as to permit his body to be lowered between the frames A and B. His body is then extended at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with relation to the floor and raised and lowered by the arms, exhaling while lowering the body and inhaling while raising the body. The horizontal bar II of section C may be touched with the users nose as he lowers his body as a guage for the maximum body lowering movements. This is an exercise known as push-ups, the health benefits fromwhich are widely known and recognized. Due to the two end frames A and B being each formed with two straight right angled parallel legs I5 and I6 with anti-skid cups I1 all disposed in the same plane in all angular positions of the end frames, and the hinge sleeves I2 forming elongated bearings for the legs I5, the end frames A and B cannot skid, be separated or be tilted by the tremendous outward thrusts exerted by the weight of the user when performing the above exercises or acrobaties upon the bars I4. The acrobatic user may swing the sections A and B to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 and grasp the grips I8 and stand on his hands on the converged bars I4, lowering and raising his body by his arms to raise and lower his head between these bars. Many other acrobaties or exercises may be performed upon this stand in many diiierent positions of the end frames A and B, in all of which the anti-skid devices II are all arranged in the same plane for absolute stability. When the device is not to be used further, it may be quickly folded without any unlatching operations by freely swinging both end frames in the same direction on the axes of their legs I5 in the sleeves I2 to the folded position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 for compact storage under the bed or otherwise out of sight.

If it be desired to use the device as a foot and r leg rest, it may be placed in front of a chair in either position shown in Fig. 2 with the bar II arranged nearest the chair, in order that a user sitting in the chair may rest the arches of his feet on the bar II, or may rest his legs horizontally upon the cushioned hand grips I8 of the bars I4. When the three frames are arranged in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to form an equilateral triangle (in plan) the horizontal bars I4 will angle diagonally across the legs of the user so as not to cut or render them tiresome when using the device in front of a chair as a leg rest. And when so used the anti-skid devices I1 being arranged in the same plane on a level floor, will not skid away from the user, and may even be used as a triangular standing pen for a baby by locking or tying the legs I5 and I6 in the position shown.

Should it be desired to convert the exerciser stand into an occasional table or bench, the sections A, B and C may be arranged in either position shown in Fig. 2 and a platform 23 in the form of a table top or bench plank shown in Fig. 10 having a pair of wide spring metal clips 24 secured to its underside,`may be clipped over the grips I8 or bars I4 as shown and will hold the sections or frames A and B in the same angular fixed positions as the clips 24 are secured to the platform 23. Thus, when it is desired to provide al small triangular occasional table, a triangular table top may be used with clips 24 secured thereto at the same angles as the dotted line position of the bars I4 in Fig. 2 to be clipped thereon to hold the sections A and B in converging relationship.

In a modication of the invention, the sleeves I2 in Figs. 7 to 9, correspond to the sleeves I2, and instead of being rigidly connected to the ends of a cross bar I I of frame C are pivotally connected on horizontal pivots or axes by thumb screws 26 extending through the ends of a flatl cross bar II and through threaded apertures in the attened surfaces 25 of the sleeves I2. The ilattened engaging faces of the bar II and the sleeves I2' are provided with radially disposed ratchet teeth 21 which are adapted to inter-engage in anyangular position of the sleeves I2 with respect to the bar I I on the pivots of screws 26 to hold the adjustment by tightening the thumb screws 26. The thumb screws 26 are long enough to thread entirely through the flattened Wall of the sleeve I2 so that they can be made to engage the leg I5 to hold the sleeve in the desired adjusted position lengthwise of the leg when these screws are tightened or driven home.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the device has many versatile uses and that various changes in the size, shape and relation of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a collapsible and portable device of the character described, the combination of a pair of inverted U-shaped end frames each having a vertical front leg and a rear leg joined by a pushup bar arranged above the floor at approximately the height of the average persons knee joint when standing upon the floor whereby a person sponoling front legs of 'said two end frames being rotatably mounted in said'bearing and thrust sleeves whereby said end frames can swing individually as units in said sleeves on vertical axes,

. said thrust resisting bar being arranged above the oor in a substantially horizontal plane midway the height of said front legs and with said bearing and thrust sleeves rotatably mounted upon said medial portions of said vertical front legs to prevent outward bending, tilting and spreading apart of said frontlegs and end frames caused by outward thrusts exerted thereon by the weight of a person imposed upon said push-up bars by his arms pushingoutwardly thereon from between the same, said elongated bearing sleeves distributing said outward thrusts of said end frames over extended lengths of said front legs, and said horizontal thrust resisting bar serving as a gage means which may be touched by the persons nose to inform him how far to lower his body during push-up exercises.

KENNETH L. JENNINGS, SR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,570,307 Kirby Jan. 19, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 771,089 France July 16, 1934 

